Jobless claims edge higher

Initial jobless claims jumped last week from a 15year low amid renewed concerns about job growth, but remained below the 300,000 level that indicates a healthy labor market.

There were 281,000 people who applied for firsttime unemployment benefits in the week that ended Saturday, the Labor Department said.

That was an increase of 14,000 from the previous week’s 267,000, which was revised down by 1,000 from the initial estimate.

The less volatile fourweek average dropped by 3,000, to 282,250, the lowest since April 2000.